Russia and Syria: The Die Is Cast
Israel Shamir • September 3, 2015



Despite doubts and denials, Russia is about to embark on an ambitious expansion of its Syrian presence, likely to change the game in the war-torn country. Russia’s small and dated naval repair facility in Tartous will be enlarged, while Jableh near Latakia (Laodicea of old) will become the Russian Air Force base and a full-blown Russian Navy base in the Eastern Mediterranean, beyond the narrow Bosphorus straits. The jihadi multitudes besetting Damascus are likely to be beaten into obedience and compliance, and the government of President Assad relieved from danger and siege. The war with Da’esh (ISIS) is to provide the cover for this operation. This is the first report of this fateful development, based on confidential and usually reliable Russian sources in Moscow.

The knowledgeable and Damascus-based French investigative journalist and dissident Thierry Meyssan noted the arrival of many Russian advisers. Russians began to share satellite imagery in real time with their Syrian allies, he added. An
[url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4696268,00.html]Israeli news site[/url] said “Russia has begun its military intervention in Syria” and predicted that “in the coming weeks thousands of Russian military personnel are set to touch down in Syria”. Russians promptly denied that.

President Bashar al Assad hinted at that a few days ago expressing his full confidence of Russian support for Damascus. First six MiG-31 fighter jets landed in Damascus a couple of weeks ago, as reported in the official RG newspaper. Michael Weiss in the far-right Daily Beast presented a flesh-creeping picture of a Russian penetration of Syria. Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper referred to Jableh as the second-base location.

Now we can confirm that to the best of our knowledge, despite denials (remember Crimea?) Russia has cast its lot and made a very important decision to enter the Syrian war. This decision may yet save Syria from total collapse and incidentally save Europe, too, from being swept by refugee waves. The Russian air force will ostensibly fight Da’esh, but probably (as Michael Weiss guessed) they will also bomb not just Da’esh but the US-allied opposition of al-Nusra (formerly al-Qaeda) and other non-Da’esh Islamic extremists for the simple reason that they can’t be distinguished from Da’esh.

The Russian Foreign Minister Mr Sergey Lavrov proposed to organise a new coalition against Da’esh including Assad’s army, Saudis and some opposition forces. The US envoy visiting Russia said that there is no chance that the Saudis or other Gulf states would agree to join forces with Bashar Assad. Russia still plans to build this coalition, but in the view of the American rejection, apparently President Putin decided to act.

Russia is worried by successes of Da’esh, as this force fights and displaces Christians in Syria, while Russia considers itself a traditional protector of these people. Russia is also worried that Da’esh may begin operations in Muslim areas of Russia, in the Caucasus and on the Volga River. And the US-led anti-Da’esh coalition didn’t do the trick.

The US and Turkey ostensibly fight Da’esh, but they have their own interests, quite different from those of Syrians, Europeans and Russians. Turkey fights the Kurds who are staunch opponents of Da’esh. The US uses the war with Da’esh as a smokescreen to fight the legitimate government of Bashar Assad who was recently re-elected by vast majority of the Syrians. Da’esh does not suffer much from the US raids, as opposed to the Syrian Army. Moreover, the US sent hundreds of trained terrorists to Syria after providing them with a military upgrade in Jordan and elsewhere. Recently David Petraeus called for the arming of Jabhat an Nusra so they would fight Da’esh. This silly idea was laughed out of court but it is far from dead.

The US and its allies have wreaked havoc in Syria. The US is far away and can enjoy the show. Europe is a loser once removed as it gets the flood of refugees. Turkey is a direct loser, as it gets refugees, terrorism, the rapid decline of President Erdogan’s popularity, and a drop of living standards, all this being due to its erroneous policies in Syria.

Now Russia has taken over the difficult task of saving the situation. If Erdogan, Obama, Kerry, and the Saudis had thought that Putin would drop Assad, now they are having a rude awakening from such delusions. The Russian position is rather nuanced. Russia will not fight for Assad, as it did not fight for [the Ukrainian President] Yanukovych. Russia thinks it is up to Syrians to decide who will be their president. Assad or somebody else – that’s an internal Syrian affair. On the other hand, Obama and his allies do fight against Assad. He had “lost his legitimacy”, they say. They have a problem with Assad, as they admit. Russia has no problems with Assad. As long as he is popular with his people, let him rule, Russians say. If some members of the opposition will join him, fine.

Russia does not intend to fight the armed opposition per se, as long as this opposition is ready for peaceful negotiations and does not demand impossible (say, Assad’s head). In real life, nobody can distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate groups and Da’esh. All of them are likely to suffer when the Russians will begin to do the job seriously. They’d better negotiate with the government and come for some arrangement. The alternative (destruction of Syria, millions of refugees, uprooting of Middle Eastern Christendom, jihadi attack on Russia proper) is too horrible to contemplate.

The War in Syria is fraught with dangers for Russia; that’s why Putin steered clear of direct involvement since 2011. The adversary is well armed, has some support on the ground, it has the wealth of the Gulf states and fanatic warriors likely to unleash a wave of terror attacks in Russia. The US position is ambiguous: Obama and his staff does not react on the growing Russian involvement. Thierry Meyssan thinks that Obama and Putin came to agreement regarding the need to defeat Da’esh. In his view, some American officials and generals (Petraeus, Allen) would like to undermine this agreement; so do the Republicans and the Neo-Cons.

Some Russian officials are worried. Perhaps Obama keeps mum in order to lure Putin into the Syrian War. Remember, the US enticed Saddam Hussein to invade Kuwait. Russian and American planes in the air over Syria could come to hostile encounters. Others say: shouldn’t Russia get involved in the Ukraine, rather than in Syria? But the apparent decision of Putin to enter war in Syria makes sense.

A war far away from home presents logistic challenges, as the US experienced in Vietnam and Afghanistan, but there is much less danger of war spilling into Russia proper. In the distant theatre of war, Russian army, navy and air force will be able to show their pluck.

If they will succeed, Syria will regain peace, refugees will return to their homes, while Russia will remain forever in the Eastern Mediterranean. Russian success will cool the warmongers in Washington, Kiev, Brussels. However, if they will fail, NATO will think that Russia is ripe for reaping and may try to move war close to home.

We can compare it with military campaigns on 1930s. The Russians under brilliant Marshal Zhukov soundly trashed the Japanese at Khalkhyn Gol in 1939, and the Japanese signed Neutrality pact with Russians and refrained from attacking Russia during the Soviet-German war. But the Red Army managed poorly against Marshal Mannerheim in Finland in 1940, and this encouraged Hitler to begin the war.

This time Russia will act within the international law framework, as opposed to Saddam Hussein’s adventure in Kuwait. While the US and Turkey bomb and strafe Syria without as much as ‘by your leave’ from the legitimate government of the state, Russia is coming by permission and by invitation of the Syrian authorities as their ally. There is a Mutual Defence Treaty between Russia and Syria. Syrian government offered Russians its facilities, airports and harbours for the defence purposes.

The Christian Churches of the Middle East welcome Russia and ask for its assistance in the face of the jihadi onslaught. The ancient Orthodox Church of Antioch and the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem welcomed Russian involvement. The most high-ranking and politically active Palestinian clergyman, Archbishop Theodosius Atallah Hanna expressed his hope the Russians will bring peace to Syria and the refugees will return home.

For the Europeans, this is the chance to wean themselves from blind support of the US policies, to return millions of refugees home from European railway stations and hostels.

If it will work, this Putin’s initiative in Syria will count with his greatest achievements. He is playing his hand keeping cards very close to his chest, and this report is the first emanating from his vicinity.

Israel Shamir reports from Moscow and can be reached at adam@israelshamir.net

This report was first published in the Unz Review

VERY LONG LIKE WOT OS TAKES BUHARIYO APOINT HIS/MINISTREEEES

VERY LONG LIKE WOT IT TAKES BUHARI TO APOINT HIS MINISTREEEES

Cast Die, lose lives. This satanic world's climax is at hand. #right your will with Your God now.

All eyes on Syria. It would be interesting to see the Russians and both sides (the US and its allies) fighting a "shadow" enemy,a ruse enemy that is not there at the first place.

While the US and it allies will be feigning bombing ISIS whereas the real aim is to get Assad by taking out its military positions; Russia (and possibly the CSTO members) will also be flying to bomb the same legitimate target-ISIS, whereas the real motive is to protect the Assad regime. Thanks to ISIS that is providing such legitimacy to intervene by any willing party. And since one can hardly distinguish between ISIS and the so-called 'moderate rebels' groups, there would be enough excuse for the Russians to bomb them from above, and from the Syrian army positions, which would then serves as a barrier against direct or even indirect attack against the Syrian army, since such an attack would mean a direct attack against Russia forces; which will definitly see reprisals and lead to open confrontation and all-out war: a situation which i dont think the Yankees, Turkey meat Erdogan or Jordanese wants. You can guess the obvious reasons.. I can't help but laugh.

If Russia put boots on the ground by the thousands, i wonder how the US will react to it. But one thing is certain, America's plan to get Assad out is all falling apart.


No thanks to another chess move by the Grand Master Putin. Isis and its wake of horror just provided the legitimate reason for Russia and some others who may join hereafter to consolidate the position of Assad. The US can hardly complain since they are are suppose to be fighting the same 'common' enemy.

Like the saying goes; what goes around comes around.

The Yankees are caught pants down in their own game of deception.

thats why i love russia and putin soo much.... They are doing what the west couldnt do.

Captainswag225:
thats why i love russia and putin soo much.... They are doing what the west couldnt do.

Thats right. Just right!

Appleyard:


Thats right. Just right!

when i take a look at libya, egypt, tunisia and syria now, the only thing i can say is the west are evil and destroyers. Am glad russia is stepping in........

Captainswag225:
when i take a look at libya, egypt, tunisia and syria now, the only thing i can say is the west are evil and destroyers. Am glad russia is stepping in........

You are very correct! The evils of the US and its Anglo empire is something that nature itself will never forget. They will never go scot free. No empire in history has ever gone away with all of its evils. There is always a day of reckoning; and Russia might just be nature's vengeance against this satanic states.

Definitly, something is going to lead to something..

Appleyard:


You are very correct! The evils of the US and its Anglo empire is something that nature itself will never forget. They will never go scot free. No empire in history has ever gone away with all of its evils. There is always a day of reckoning; and Russia might just be nature's vengeance against this satanic states.

Definitly, something is going to lead to something..

yes they will surely pay. They are already paying with their soldiers and there is more to come upon them. They hate the progress of every nation. Am glad china and russia are collaborating against them.

Appleyard:


You are very correct! The evils of the US and its Anglo empire is something that nature itself will never forget. They will never go scot free. No empire in history has ever gone away with all of its evils. There is always a day of reckoning; and Russia might just be nature's vengeance against this satanic states.

Definitly, something is going to lead to something..

Please what's poor Russia to do. U.S. Have done more good than harm. How come all the Syrian refugees are heading ova to Europe. Their own Muslim brothers don't want them in their country. How come Russia is taking them in.

You guys like to talk crap about USA but you will do everything to become American citizen.

Appleyard:


If Russia put boots on the ground by the thousands, i wonder how the US will react to it. But one thing is certain, America's plan to get Assad out is all falling apart.

But the hegemon has indeed reacted. See this:

http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/white-house-warns-against-russian-military-action-against-isis/ri9527




White House Warns Against Russian Military Action Against ISIS
White House relies on the rumor mill to warn Russia off of something Moscow has no intent of doing anyway

How it must suck to be caught out in your own game.

JiggamanGh:


Please what's poor Russia to do. U.S. Have done more good than harm. How come all the Syrian refugees are heading ova to Europe. Their own Muslim brothers don't want them in their country. How come Russia is taking them in.

You guys like to talk crap about USA but you will do everything to become American citizen.

Is that all you can say? You are implying that we should not be critical of the disastrous and inhumane foreign policy of the the hegemon cos of the possible goodies - such as citizenship & a shot at the "American Dream" - that we may enjoy should we just shut our traps, turn a blind eye to these atrocities and kowtow to the will of the hegemon?

Just like I opened one on MH17, I think I will open a thread on this Syria crisis most especially now that Russia has joined the fray

JiggamanGh:


Please what's poor Russia to do. U.S. Have done more good than harm. How come all the Syrian refugees are heading ova to Europe. Their own Muslim brothers don't want them in their country. How come Russia is taking them in.

You guys like to talk crap about USA but you will do everything to become American citizen.

You yarn like an uninform troller. Who told you refugees are not entering and been accepted in some muslim states? Do you know how many have entered Turkey, Jordan etc? Are you seriously saying Russia should not entertain refugees?

Tell me what good has US done to the middle east as a whole, other than the chaos and cheer terror we see over there every day? The refugees that are fleeing to Europe, why are they fleeing their homeland, if it is safe, to other parts of the globe? Who are they running from in the middle east? Crisis! What sort of crisis? -Civil wars mostly caused by US sponsored "colour revolutions" and the terrorism formented by ISIS. Who created ISIS and formented the civil wars? The US. What purpose? Removal of Assad, pipeline/oil politics of the US, Saudi Arabia, and Isreal, vis the grand plot to dethrone Russia as Europe's major supplier of gas and oil as well as determinants of oil prices, acquisition of scarce resources-oil, uranium, gold, etc.

I ask you again; what good have the US done that goes beyond all the atrocities comitted by it? What good has it done to make the world safer? What just course has it taken to bring soccour other than destruction to various parts of the globe? Where is the democracy, fundamental human rights and freedom it has brought to Nicaragua, Panama, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Somalia, Venezuela, Argentina, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Ukraine, Afghanistan; to mention but few-all places where the US comitted acts of terror, murder and devastation? Please, i am waiting.

I believe they did you enough good when you requested for the Ebola vaccine during the Ebola crisis? Just as they also overwhelmingly helped you in the war against Boko haram, even when you wanted to buy weapons from other sources?

I am still waiting to hear from your "loads of goods" .

Till then, you can,continue washing Hollywood and listening to BB-Sin/CNN brainwashing networks; while you are free to apply for US citizenship where in your wide dreams you think the sky is the limit.

Meanwhile, you can google "the greatest threat to world peace" as voted by many nations. That should help you in your "good than harm" thesis preparation.

No offence meant...



Still waiting...

seunny4lif:
The same USA that destroy Iraqi and Libya.....Those people are evil,look at what is happening in Libya now....A very peaceful country is now a war thorn country,thanks to France and USA ...

I tell you, My brother. Those he-goats have killed and impoverished millions of people than anything Hitler could ever dream of. Yet, some myopic trollers can't stop oraising them to high heavens.

Just see Libya now; a country that was once the richest and best economy in Africa, is today a breeding ground for terrorists, chaos, murder, rape, torture and unprecedented violence. All as a result of the "good" work of the US, France, Uk and the rest of the Satanists control states.

There is nothing more painful than when you come accross people who expect to understand better, only to sing, dance, and encouraged these evils, death, rape, murder, destruction, oppression and devastation of hapless nations and their people.
God will never forgive this evil people and their supporters; thats for sure.

Just take a look at the news and see the rate at which people are dying in the thousands in the Middle East, Mediterrenean, and accross north Africa. Anyone who truely have a live conscience will feel pained anger for what is happening to these places. The major reason for it all, is the US-NATO-Anglo Neo empire's overt and covert military adventurism; with the aim to control everything, thus removing percieved enemies-political leaders who stood their way, grab and raped the bombarded land for their economic greed, pave the way for their genetically modified foods that is to replace all natural ones-together with Big Pharma rolling out cancer causing, gene defective and fertility killer drugs and foods; exploitation and selfish interest by their Multi-national corporations; own by the satanist elites who will stop at nothing to achieve global hegemon.

I lost 5 of my friends during this Libya war.....

Appleyard:
I tell you, My brother. Those he-goats have killed and impoverished millions of people than anything Hitler could ever dream of. Yet, some myopic trollers can't stop oraising them to high heavens.

Just see Libya now; a country that was once the richest and best economy in Africa, is today a breeding ground for terrorists, chaos, murder, rape, torture and unprecedented violence. All as a result of the "good" work of the US, France, Uk and the rest of the Satanists control states.

There is nothing more painful than when you come accross people who expect to understand better, only to sing, dance, and encouraged these evils, death, rape, murder, destruction, oppression and devastation of hapless nations and their people.
God will never forgive this evil people and their supporters; thats for sure.

Just take a look at the news and see the rate at which people are dying in the thousands in the Middle East, Mediterrenean, and accross north Africa. Anyone who truely have a live conscience will feel pained anger for what is happening to these places. The major reason for it all, is the US-NATO-Anglo Neo empire's overt and covert military adventurism; with the aim to control everything, thus removing percieved enemies-political leaders who stood their way, grab and raped the bombarded land for their economic greed, pave the way for their genetically modified foods that is to replace all natural ones-together with Big Pharma rolling out cancer causing, gene defective and fertility killer drugs and foods; exploitation and selfish interest by their Multi-national corporations; own by the satanist elites who will stop at nothing to achieve global hegemon.

Hahahahaha Then that should be good news for Putin
and the rest of the gang Now they can say,"i told you, ISIS is a product of the West-whose aim is to distabilize and take out percieved enemies". Which will then start the public question: why is it that the US wants the prerogative to fight ISIS alone, even when they are public enemies? The US can't answer that at home, let alone abroad

Then Russia will point to the fact that ISIS is a threath to it's national security, especially bothering on the Caucausian region of the country, and the sad prevailing history of islamic terrorism suffered by Russia in past and recent time are there for all to see. Plus the fact that ISIS is a "hostis humanis generis", (an enemy of all mankind). On this note, Russia can take whatever action it deems fit against ISIS (which of course would only be a ruse), and i can tell you; public opinion will quickly go their way, no matter how western media will try to frame it.

You see why the US is caught in the middle? They can't stop Russia from attacking ISIS, and at the same time, they can't do anything in the open to help ISIS.

What a game brother!

NairaMinted:


But the hegemon has indeed reacted. See this:

http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/white-house-warns-against-russian-military-action-against-isis/ri9527




White House Warns Against Russian Military Action Against ISIS
White House relies on the rumor mill to warn Russia off of something Moscow has no intent of doing anyway

How it must suck to be caught out in your own game.

NairaMinted:
Just like I opened one on MH17, I think I will open a thread on this Syria crisis most especially now that Russia has joined the fray

That should be good. Cos something tells me that this Syrian issue is definitly going to give a bloody nose.

seunny4lif:
I lost 5 of my friends during this Libya war.....

Just immagine! What a world of evil! A whole 5? Jesus! Sorry.

Appleyard:
Just immagine! What a world of evil! A whole 5? Jesus! Sorry.

It's part of the story of Life...We are all working and living peacefully in Libya before the NATO started their problem against the best president ever in Africa...I remember asking questions on Nairaland about Libya and Egypt....

seunny4lif:

It's part of the story of Life...We are all working and living peacefully in Libya before the NATO started their problem against the best president ever in Africa...I remember asking questions on Nairaland about Libya and Egypt....

Oh sorry dear :' I tell you the truth; if God will not judge the US and it's Empire for all the evils it has done, then He will have to apologise to Sodom and Gomorrah! But i thank God that His ways are not our ways. What He promise to do, he will do. For all works of men must come into judgement; whether they be individuals, thrones, dominions, nations, kings, or rulers. All must answer to their good or evil deeds, either in this world or in the afterlife.

My heart always bleed for the untold hardship the people of Libya is facing right now. Is very painful.

Appleyard:


Oh sorry dear :' I tell you the truth; if God will not judge the US and it's Empire for all the evils it has done, then He will have to apologise to Sodom and Gomorrah! But i thank God that His ways are not our ways. What He promise to do, he will do. For all works of men must come into judgement; whether they be individuals, thrones, dominions, nations, kings, or rulers. All must answer to their good or evil deeds, either in this world or in the afterlife.

My heart always bleed for the untold hardship the people of Libya is facing right now. Is very painful.

The people of Libya deserve everything they are getting today.

Truckpusher:
The people of Libya deserve everything they are getting today.

Realy? TheTruckpusher won't push hard against one of Africa's, except something awry must have gone wrong with that nation and the people. Please, Oblige me your reasons.

seunny4lif:
The same USA that destroy Iraqi and Libya.....Those people are evil,look at what is happening in Libya now....A very peaceful country is now a war thorn country,thanks to France and USA ...

Well said those people ruined my plans of relocating to Afghanistan or Iran

lilmizwierd:

Well said those people ruined my plans of relocating to Afghanistan or Iran

lol try pakistan!

Well crafted! Concise thesis! Straight to the head! Alot of folks still don't know the actual evil fighting the world.

I am cool Souljah! I and I is one tied up in this war to liberate the deluded souls. Keep up the good work Souljah; OVER!

cyprus000:
[size=13pt]
What are you talking about bro?

The same U.S that created isis under the mantra of sloughing hezbollah from world scene

The same U.S that armed and trained ISIS in jordan in 2012. just to topple al assad,cos he is ally to russia.

Ok,let's look at it from another angle.

If U.S didn't invade iraq and created pre-conditions for sunni radical groups to grow and infest. their puppet shiite installed ragime, which systematically dispossessed sunnis of their assets and created vast unemployment in sunni area.
Plus the exacerbated sectarian division they created.
Won't make a fertile ground for terrorism to thrive.

Which ever way you look at it. US still remain the root cause of the whole conflict.

Even turkey and lebanon with highest refugee intake don't blab like them.
So quit the defence,cos its only their zombie that take them serious.

You should be thanking russia for coming to clean their mess.

---

Wattagwan apple of jah.
[/size]

lilmizwierd:

Well said those people ruined my plans of relocating to Afghanistan or Iran

Realy? On a business trip or what?

But now that Iran is somehow free from the western pressure, how about moving in?

Captainswag225:
lol try pakistan!

Why pakistan pls? Does it offer more biz opportunity?

Appleyard:
Why pakistan pls? Does it offer more biz opportunity?

no lol, it was jux a joke!